Graduate Opportunities

The popular ‘going green’ catchphrase has hit the mainstream global economy. Societal interest in addressing environmental issues, along with responses by regulators and industry, are creating jobs in a new ‘green collar sector’. This term refers to employment opportunities loosely related, but not limited, to the climate change, energy and sustainability arenas.

Many future jobs and industries will interface both peripherally and directly with the green economy. Career roles are diverse and not limited to people with high-level scientific research training or environmental backgrounds. Think of the green collar sector as an ‘umbrella’ that transcends any one academic discipline.

As our emerging economic, social, technological and environmental needs and consciousness become increasingly focused on solving sustainability issues, new employment opportunities for graduates will open across all industries and disciplines. There is already a scarcity of experienced, capable people in some green collar areas and the sector projects strong growth.

The work

Evolving key green areas are likely to create demand for graduates such as economists, mathematicians, marketers, public relations experts, legal professionals, scientists, engineers and designers.

Examples include:

• renewable energy generation and design (including solar, tidal, geothermal and landfill gas power sources)
• environmental impact assessment
• energy management and distribution
• carbon capture, storage, mitigation and management
• climate change strategy and adaptation (e.g. the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, or CPRS)
• public transport infrastructure development
• manufacturing developments (e.g. electric cars)
• building and construction
• public policy and legislative development.

New graduates could expect professional training and exposure through hands-on, creative developmental work. As fresh faces to the workforce, graduates are unlikely to be constrained by many of the historical legacies that have limited the development of sustainable practices. The contemporary ideals of new graduates may also be relevant to green collar jobs.

It’s our planet at stake – why not seek to play a role in its ongoing livelihood?

GCA and Graduate Opportunities would like to thank Golder Associates for assistance with this industry profile. For more information, visit www.golder.com.au

What you need

• Whatever your degree, related green collar jobs are likely to be available in your profession
• Transferable skills are beneficial
• Be open to dynamic changes and new ways of thinking
• Interest in sustainable futures and practices

Money matters: graduate salary ranges for selected relevant occupations

• Accountant: $39,300-$52,000
• Electrical Engineer: $51,000-$63,500
• Environmental Research Scientist: $42,000-$52,000
• Public Relations Professional: $36,000-$50,000

-- Figures from the Australian Graduate Survey 2008, GCA. Ranges refer to the middle 50 per cent of salaries for bachelor degree graduates with permanent residency, in full-time employment in Australia Oct 07-Apr 08.

Industry at a Glance
Source: Stern Review Report 2007, in “Growing the Green Collar Economy”, CSIRO 2008; Garnaut Climate Change Review 2008; Dusseldorf Skills Forum, www.dsf.org.au

• 25 million projected green collar jobs worldwide, 2050
• 10% fall in projected GNP (by 2100 if unmitigated climate change)
• Positive outlook (3.25 million green collar jobs in Australia by 2025 if strong environmental practices employed)